The Critics

Tetrahydrocannabinol

Tetrahydrocannabinol has not only made a buzz in the medical field, but also in mainstream media. It’s constantly seen, talked about, and is used recreationally by major music artist, and various celebrities. In 1978 director and writer Richard Cheech” Marin and Tommy Chong released a movie called Cheech andChong Up in Smoke who found an extensive audience in the 1970s and 1980s for their films and stand-up routines. They were based on the hippie and free love era most remarkably known for their love for cannabis. The Grammy Award–winning comedy duo cracked the hard shell, and negative views on the recreational use of marijuana. Chong also play a role as Leo on the popular 1998-2006 shows That 70’s Show. The substance is never directly seen on the show, but the writers make tons of references, and uses of marijuana. Other classic movies have had high ratings since Cheech and Chong that provide a more in depth look on the use of the Cannabis plant such as, Friday, Pineapple, Express, Half Baked, and Where the Millers.

Tetrahydrocannabinol also known, as THC is a chemical found in Cannabis Sativa, known as marijuana. It’s known to be a popular plant in today’s culture for its psychological effects to the nerves cells in the body. “Cannabinoid receptors are concentrated in certain areas of the brain associated with thinking, memory, pleasure, coordination and time perception. There are also cannabinoid receptors on nerves in other parts of the body” (livescience). Some people call it a “high” sensation. The use of marijuana dates back thousands of years. “For the most part, it was widely used for medicine and spiritual purposes,” during pre-modern times, said Warf, a professor of geography at the University of Kansas in Lawrence (livescience). Since then its known effects have traveled their way through many parts of the world including the United States.

What makes marijuana relevant in current society the conflict and controversy that comes with it. People within the United States reinsure their opinion by going about it though the reinforcement theory. “The theory generally states that people seek out, and remember information that provides cognitive support for their pre-existing attitudes and beliefs” (Wikipedia). Some people that are highly opinionated about this debatable conversation discuss their own bias opinion, and use facts whether it is right or wrong to back up their beliefs. Due to the disagreement, and the facts held behind it the United States is currently deciding if the substance should be legal. This is what keeps the conversation continuing and relevant. Innumerable studies have emphasized the industrial and medicinal uses of marijuana, yet the federal government declares that it has ‘no accepted medical use’ and remains to categorize it in the same class as heroin. Despite the laws against it, the medical marijuana market is priced at around $1.7-billion dollars (NaturalSociety). Research points to an assortment of medical uses for this rare plant such relieving stress for those who suffer with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), treating nausea and vomiting in cancer patients since the 1980s, improved breathing in asthmatics is supported by research dating back to the 1970s. The 1970s showed that smoking marijuana could reduce symptoms in glaucoma sufferers.

Music has also played a large role in keeping marijuana relevant in popular culture. It’s constantly seen in many music videos from hip-hop to rock and roll. Artists ranging from George Clinton and The Parliament Funkadelic, Bob Marley, Bob Dylan, Biggy Smalls, Tupac,Wiz Khalifa, Snoop Dog, Lil Wayne, and many more. They Show comfortably with the use of Marijuana though their videos, and everyday life though social media. These actions carry on to people who follow them, and they share their love or hatred for the substance. Furthermore, marijuana is seen everywhere from clothing brands to bumper stickers even though the substance is illegal, so it makes it hard not to discuss it, or have opinions about it.

Various individuals have had a care free thought about using Marijuana for recreational purposes, and medical benefits for a very long time, and others hate the thought of it being in this country. However, Marijuana seems to be a favorable topic of discussion.